Press Releases, 7/7/2014 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Finland increases humanitarian assistance to South Sudan

Press Release 158/2014
7 July 2014

Finland is increasing its humanitarian assistance to South Sudan by 4 million euros. As a result of the crisis in South Sudan, 1.5 million people have had to leave their homes. Almost 400,000 of them have fled to neighbouring countries. There are 3.8 million people in need of assistance, and the risk of famine is great.

“The humanitarian situation is alarming and worsening. If the violence does not stop and a political solution to the crisis is not found, the consequences will be catastrophic,” Development Minister Pekka Haavisto says.

Of Finland’s support, 2 million euros is channelled to the International Committee of the Red Cross and 500,000 euros to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies via the Finnish Red Cross, 1.2 million euros to the World Food Programme WFP, 200,000 euros through Finn Church Aid and 100,000 euros through Fida. The donation brings the humanitarian assistance granted by Finland this year to 8.8 million euros.

The support is paid out of the appropriations for humanitarian aid included within Finland’s development cooperation.